Brian invited Michael and Ben to dinner on the following Friday. Melanie had decided to tackle them separately from Debbie because she wasn’t sure she could handle both of the Novotny’s and the Novotny-Bruckner’s in one dose. And, Justin decided he wanted to be there even with Melanie’s concerns. He was in the middle of finishing dinner when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” Brian called from the living room. He opened the door to Melanie with Jenny in her arms. Jenny smiled brightly and immediately leaned over toward Brian. Brian took her and she planted a wet baby kiss on his cheek. Brian smiled and kissed her cheek causing her to smiled even bigger. “Are you flirting with your My By, Baby?” Melanie asked as Jenny laid her head on Brian’s shoulder. “Lady killer.” Melanie said directing the comment toward Brian. Brian chuckled and motioned Melanie in. “But, aren’t you glad she doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in, well, you know?” Brian chuckled as Melanie set all Jenny’s ‘travel gear’ on the floor by the couch. “Then she can be the world’s youngest fag hag.” Melanie said laughing. “So, you don’t mind being the middle of this, do you?” “I’m not in the middle.” Brian said. “I’ve already chosen sides.” Melanie looked at him strangely then he pointed at Jenny. “Hers.” “I’m just afraid that Michael is going to go off the deep end, you know.” Melanie said. “Well, we are talking someone that doesn’t have that much further to go in the first place.” Brian smirked. “You know, since all this happened with Lindsay, I’ve really appreciated your support.” Melanie said suddenly serious. “It was kind of unexpected, but I’m grateful.” “Don’t hurt yourself.” Brian said with the hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Just take the damned compliment.” Melanie grumped. “I mean it. You and Justin have been so helpful in all this.” She started to tear up and rubbed her eyes angrily. “Christ.” “Hormones?” Brian said as Melanie nodded slightly. “Jeez, between your hormones and Justin’s ‘allergies’ -.” He trailed off shaking his head. They walked into the kitchen where Justin was flitting about getting dinner ready. Brian put Jenny into her high chair and handed her a spoon to play with. “Need any help, Justin?” Melanie asked. Walking over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Nope, everything’s done.” He said smiling. “Call up and tell John to wash up for dinner.” He said looking in Brian’s direction. “What’s the magic word?” Brian teased. “Please, call up and tell John to wash up for dinner.” Justin repeated grinning. “Well, actually it’s ‘blow job’, but I’ll let it pass just this once.” Brian smiled and kissed him soundly before moving to the bottom of the steps to call up to John. Melanie stared at Justin for several minutes. “What?” “You guys are something else, you know?” Justin shrugged as the doorbell rang again. “Ill get it.” Brian said heading back to the front door. Melanie looked apprehensive. “You okay?” Justin asked. “No.” Melanie said sounding very un-Melanie-like. -- “That was fantastic, Justin.” Michael said pushing his plate away. “Thanks.” Justin said as he started picking up dishes to take to the sink. “Alright, big guy, come on.” John smiled rolling his eyes as he started picking up dishes along with Justin. “Where’s Hunter tonight, Michael?” John asked when he came back for more dishes. “He’s supposed to be working on a history project.” Michael said. “But knowing him, he’s sitting front of the TV right now, eating junk food and not getting it done.” Ben said with a knowing smile. “I’d better clean up the sauce monster.” Melanie said lifting Jenny out of her high chair. “Looks like somebody else liked Sunshine’s cooking, too.” Melanie smiled at her daughter whose face was red with pasta sauce and still hand the odd piece of spaghetti stuck to it here and there. “Need help?” Michael offered. Melanie stiffened. “I got it.” Melanie said her smile faltering ever so slightly. Justin handed her a damp paper towel as she walked over to the sink. She smiled and thanked him. She purposely took longer than she needed to cleaning up Jenny until she could no longer stall. She tossed the paper towel into the trashcan and walked back over to the table. “I’m going to go play video games in my room, okay?” John asked. “Sure, Champ.” Brian said thankful that he didn’t have ask John to leave. “So, what’s the occasion?” Michael asked suddenly. “Occasion?” Brian asked innocently. “You invite us,” Michael said pointing to himself and Ben, “over with Melanie and Jenny and nobody else, I have to wonder.” “What?” Brian asked. “I can’t invite my best friend and his family over for dinner?” Michael gave him a ‘gimme a break’ look reminiscent of Debbie. Brian smirked but said nothing. “Well,” Melanie began, “it was kinda my idea.” Michael turned to face Melanie a questioning look on his face. Melanie handed Jenny to Justin who excused himself to put her in her travel crib. “When Lindsay and I broke up after Jenny was born, it was nice to have you two and Debbie around for support.” “We were glad to do it.” Michael said. “After all, we’re family.” “Right.” Melanie said. “But, it’s been over a year now and -.” “You and Lindsay might be getting back together, then?” Michael asked guardedly. “That’d be wonderful.” “No, no, no.” Melanie said. “Lindsay and I aren’t even close to getting that much sorted out although we have been going to counseling together. We have to learn to be friends again first, but that isn’t the point.” Melanie took a deep breath and began again. “See, it was wonderful to have you all to help me out, but now, I need a bit of a break.” “From?” Michael asked. “From you.” Melanie cringed. “I know that sounds awful.” Justin walked back in the kitchen and took his seat again. ”You want to take Jenny away from us?” Michael asked already on the defensive. “No.” Melanie said firmly. “I don’t want to take Jenny away from anyone. I just need some time alone with my daughter. I need you to call before you come over instead of just stopping by unannounced. I need to be able to relax and because I never really know when one of you might pop up on my door step, I haven’t had much time to do that.” Melanie ran her hand through her hair. “I’m exhausted, but it isn’t from just raising Jenny. I need time to unplug.” She shook her head. “And, I can’t do that when every time I turn around someone is at my door.” “We just want to help.” Michael said. “I mean, she’s my daughter, too.” “No one is denying that.” Melanie stated. “And, I have no intention of keeping her away from you. We just need time alone together. Time when I can just stay in my pajamas all day, maybe not even shower, just relax and not have to be ‘on’ all the time.” “We don’t expect that.” Ben scoffed. “Maybe not.” Melanie said softly. “But, we – Jenny and I - need a break. We need it to be just us for a little while.” “How long is a ‘little while’?” Michael asked. “I don’t know.” Melanie said. “But, you are the one who decides when the little while is up, right?” Michael said angrily. Melanie just stared at him then looked to Brian. “Calm down, Mikey.” Brian interjected. “It’s not like she’s leaving town.” “You stay the fuck out of it!” Michael shouted causing Jenny to start crying. Melanie followed Justin as he headed back into the living room. “What the fuck? You invite us over here to ambush us with this bullshit.” Michael said turning on Brian. “Don’t make this about us Michael.” Brian retorted. “Because it isn’t.” “You knew she wanted to do this, though, right?” Michael asked already knowing the answer. “She confides in me because she knows I’m not going to broadcast it to the fucking world.” Brian explained. “When have I ever-.” Michael huffed, but Brian cocked his eyebrow at Michael who immediately backed down. “Still, that’s no excuse.” Just then Melanie and Justin returned to the kitchen. “Like Brian said, Michael, this isn’t about you and him.” Melanie took an exasperated breath then let it out. “I feel smothered. I need a chance to breathe. To be on my own.” “Which is another thing.” Michael stated advancing on Melanie. “When I signed on to be the father, it was supposed to be you and Lindsay raising Jenny, not just you.” “So?” Melanie shot back refusing to back down. “Things changed. You don’t know the whole story and you don’t need to.” “Well, I don’t know if I want my daughter in a tense situation like what you and Lindsay are in.” Michael said angrily his face a mere inches from Melanie’s. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Michael.” Melanie said. “I know that you two are barely on speaking terms and that Jenny and Gus are in the middle of it.” Michael spat. “You don’t have to worry about Gus, Michael.” Brian interjected. “Why?” Michael huffed sarcastically. “Cause you take such good care of him.” Shocked, Brian stood up and stepped between Michael and Melanie. “Gus is none of your concern, Michael. He’s my son and the time I do or do not spend with him is none of your business.” Michael took a cautious step back. “Maybe you two should drop it for tonight before someone says something they can’t take back.” “I think Brian’s right, Michael.” Ben said gently pulling Michael away from Brian and Melanie. “We should go.” “Fine.” Michael said pouting and crossing his arms across his chest. “But this isn’t over.” He pulled on his coat and hurried out of the house Ben hurrying after him. “Oh yeah, that went well.” Brian said rolling his eyes. “Wonder how long it’ll take for Debbie to come pounding down my door blaming me for all of this.” “You?” “You’d be surprised how much I get blamed for.” Brian said flatly. “Especially when it comes to dear little Mikey.” End chapter 2.